Mithuruwela's Latest Initiative: DVD on Henry Jayasena's Experience called Mage Kathawa (My Story)

'Mage Kathawa'

By Jeevani Pereira

Daily Mirror Oct 24, 2007

Cancer as much as it takes over your body has a tendency to ware away your mind as well. Negativity often gathers momentum; the ability of a cancer patient to give up on himself becomes stronger by the day.

Doctor Henry Jayasena's powerful message is however of the contrary. "We get frightened and disturbed by the situation we have to face, but I beseech you to face it with courage and to spread whatever you have learnt to others," he stressed.

A cancer patient himself, on the road to recovery, Dr Jayasena presented his DVD 'Mage Kathawa' to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital recently along with the Mithuruwela support organization.

"In 1999 I discovered I had cancer and I went through 152 sessions of chemotherapy, which took 17 months to complete," he reminisced adding that through it all he always took a positive attitude.

"Sometimes a positive attitude helps you more that the checkups you get," he continued adding that the DVD follows his books published on his experiences with cancer. "I hope that through the DVD my story of hope reaches a wider audience."

'Mage Kathawa' which was made in league with the Open University of Sri Lanka will be shown often at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, for patients in the waiting rooms and wards to inspire some hope to never give up on their situation or their lives, according to the management.

Kiran Dhanapala, Secretary of Mithuruwela pointed out that their non-profit organization was dedicated in helping people to cope with the disease as well as provide them with the correct information - patients and their families alike.

"We work especially with the marginalized, those who expressly need the right advice and the comfort," she explained. The team concept is strong at Mithuruwela with counsellors and medical advisors working together as well.

The organization has also been responsible for brochures for the Cancer Institute and hospital as well as befriending services at Shanthi Nivasa in Maharagama for caregivers of patients.

Furthermore they have been involved in the collection of this literature and information about cancer from international and local sources as well as established an advisory circle to review production of literature. Along with this they make sure that the aforesaid literature is appropriate for Sri Lanka and is translated into national languages.

Training for volunteers interested in befriending is done before sending them to various places in the country to continue the work at Mithuruwela. They also provide a hotline for anyone in need of information or support on cancer countrywide.

"Cancer is the third largest killer in Sri Lanka and 97 percent of those affected by cancer and their caregivers want more information on the disease," I was told by those at Mithuruwela. They added that the lack of awareness about various types of cancers was a significant reason for such high incidence of the disease and that was among the main reasons they began the organization.